Collapsible carrying-crate.



T. B. BOMAR.

COLLAPSIBLE CARRYING CRATE.

APPLICAUON FILED NOV. 15. 1915.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I Attorneys nmmua. wunlunrou n c '6 Jay Witnesses T. B. BOM AR. COLLAPSIBLE CARRYING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1915.

Patented Feb. 13,1917.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 mmm,

Witnesses Attorneys 0 THOMAS E. nor/ran, or rear wea ers,

TEX AS.

COIJLAPSIBLE CARRYING-CRATE.

Application filed lt'ovemher 15, 1915.

To all toiwm it may concern Be it known that I, Trrotms l3. BOMAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State oflexas, have invented a new and useful Collapsible Carrying-Crate, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to crates and boxes, and aims to provide a novel and improved folding container which may be constructed for shipping or carrying poultry eggs, bread, and other commodities.

It is theobject of the invention to provide a crate, the bottom, top, sides and nds of which fold together in a compact and desirable manner, whereby the crate can be returned in a compact condition and with minimum expense, the crate being readily unfolded for receiving the cominodities which are to be transported.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a collapsible crate which is comparatively simple,'durable, strong and inexpensive in construction, as w ll as being convenient, practical and efficient in use.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the'invention resides in the combi nation and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made with in the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate in unfolded or erected position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the crate, portions being broken awayand shown in section. 7 i

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the crate in collapsed condition.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of thecrate in folded position. b

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental plan view of one corner of the crate in folded position.

The crate, which may be constructed in various sizes and proportions, according to the use to which it is put, embodies a rectangular bottom 1 having a marginal upturned rim or flange 2.

The ends 3 of the crate are adapted to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 11911.7. Serial 1%. cheer.

set on edge'upon the ends of the rim 2, and straps are secured to the inner surfaces of the cues 3 and projectdownwardly below the lower edges of said ends, as seen in Fig. 2, the lower ends of said straps 4: having eyes or hinge butts 5 pivotally embracing cross rods 6 terminally engaged through the side portions of the rim 2 adjacent the ends thereof, or within the end corners of the bottom. The tray-like bottom 1 is sufliciently deep and long that when the ends 3 r are swung toward one another and clownwardly, they will be received within the rim 2. When the ends 3 are swung upwardly and away from one another, they seat upon the ends of therim 2.

The top 7 of the crate is provided with a rectangular rim or frame 8, the ends of which are adapted to sit upon the upper edges of the'ends 3, whereby the top is supported firmly, thus enabling a number of the crates to be stacked one upon the other, each crate being capable of withstanding the weight imposed thereon. The rim 8 is of the same size and shape as the rim 2.

The top 7 and ends 3 are connected together, and to this end four links 9 have their upper ends pivoted, as at 10, to the inner surfaces of the side bars of the rim 8 spaced from the ends of said rim 8, and the lower ends of said links 9 are pivoted, as at 11, to the upright edges of the ends 8 between the upper and lower edges of said ends. When the ends 3 are swung into pos1- tion, with the top resting upon said ends, the

links 9 are arranged obliquely to act as braces for strengthening the crate. When the ends 3 are swung inwardly and clownwardly against the bottom, the links 9 being swung into alinement with the ends 3, will slightly raise the top 7, and the ends in moving downwardly will swing the lower ends of the links 9 inwardly, thereby pulling or drawing the top 7 downwardly with the ends, so that the top will rest upon the rim 2 of the bottom over the folded ends. Conversely, when the top is raised, the links 9 will pull the ends 3 upwardly, to start them into erect position, and saidends can then be readily moved into place under the ends of the top and onto the ends of the bottom.

The sides 12 of the crate are normally disposed snugly between the ends 3, and have attached to their upright edges or ends straps 13 which have their upper ends pivoted, as at 14, to the ends of the rim 8 adjacent the side bars thereof, whereby the sides 12 can be swung inwardly and upwardly against the top within the rim 8 thereof. hen the sides or side walls 12 are swung into place, they rest against the links 9, and when the sides are swung against the top, the ends 8 can be swung inwardly and downwardly to collapse the crate, the sides moving onto the ends, and the top moving downwardly onto the sides and bottom. It is thus an easy matter to compactly fold the crate for return shipment, and the crate may be readily unfolded to receive the commodities which are to be transported.

As illustrated, the sides, ends and top are provided with meshed wire panels, whereby the crate is particularly useful for shipping poultry, although it is to be understood that the side and end walls and top can'be provided with closed panels when the crate is used for shipping eggs, bread, etc.

In order to hold the lower edges of the sides 12 in place when the sides are swung downwardly from the top, the sides 12 are provided with suitable catches 15 adjacent their lower edges which are engageable with keepers 16 carried by the side portions of the rim 2 of the bottom, said catches being of any suitable character. The catches 15 can be readily released when the crate is to be collapsed.

In order to hold the crate in collapsed condition, catches or latches are carried by the bottom anda're engageable with the top to hold the bottom and top assembled, whereby they cannot be separated accidentally during the shipment of the collapsed crate. The said catches embody rods 17 disposed slidably within staples or eyes 18 attached to the ends of the rim 2, each rod 17 having a crank 19 at one end, and an angularly extending lug 20 at its other end. The lug 20 prevents the withdrawal of the rod 17 from the staples 18, and the crank 19 provides means for engaging the staple or keeper 21 attached'to the respective end of the rim 8. When the crate is folded, the rods 17 can he slid to project the terminals of its cranks 19 through the staples 21 for holding the top and bottom together, and said rods can be readily slid by hand to release the catches from the staples or keepers 21 when the crate is to be unfolded.

of, the braces or links 9 will tend to pull 7 the ends of the crate inwardly, thereby moving them tightly against the sides, and providing a rigid structure. When the crate is folded, as illustrated in Fig. 4, it will be noted that there is a space between the bottom and the sides and ends, so that any dirt or foreign matter that should be left in the crate after it is returned, will not lie upon the top, sides and ends, and canbe readily dumped from the bottom. When the device is used as an egg box or crate, the partitions or fillers can be stored within the space provided when the crate is folded.

Having thus described the invention, what is -claimed as new is:

A collapsible crate embodying a bottom having an upwardly projecting marginal rim, ends seatable upon the end portions of said rim, downwardly projecting portions carried by the inner surfaces of the ends hinged to the bottom so that the ends can swing within said rim, a top embodying a rim whose end portions are seat-able upon said ends when they are swung upwardly, links having their upper ends pivoted to the inner surfaces of the side'members of said rim of the top spaced from the ends of the top, the lowerends of said links being pivoted to the upright edges of the ends between the upper and lower edges thereof, and sides hinged within the rim of the top to swingagainst the top within its rim, the sides being swingable downwardly between the ends, the rim of the top being seatable on the rim of the bottom when the crate is collapsed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS B. BOMAR.

Witnesses:

L. G. ZEIGLER, d. H. HUDSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

